State Of Orissa & Ors vs Md. Illiyas on 22 November, 2005
71. With reference to the precedential value of decisions, in State of
Orissa v. Mohd. Illiyas [(2006) 1 SCC 275 : 2006 SCC (L&S) 122]
this Court observed: (SCC p. 282, para 12)
"12. ... According to the well-settled theory of precedents,
every decision contains three basic postulates: (i) findings
of material facts, direct and inferential. An inferential
finding of facts is the inference which the Judge draws
from the direct, or perceptible facts; (ii) statements of the
principles of law applicable to the legal problems
disclosed by the facts; and (iii) judgment based on the
combined effect of the above. A decision is an authority
for what it actually decides. What is of the essence in a
LPA 136/2023 & LPA 137/2023 Page 112 of 121
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:NEHA
Signing Date:06.09.2023
16:50:56
decision is its ratio and not every observation found
therein nor what logically flows from the various
observations made in the judgment."